By evening, the bathroom and the toilet behind the house that Gu Xiaoxi had wanted were finally completed.

While the cement on the ground was still wet, Lu Jiansen took Gu Dachuan and the others to a nearby river to collect some pebbles and laid them on the bathroom floor.

This made the bathroom cleaner and more hygienic, providing proper drainage. In the future, if he wasn’t home, his little girl wouldn’t have to struggle to carry out the bathwater herself.

With the extra pebbles, he also paved a small path in the yard, ensuring that even when it rained, the house would remain clean and dry.

Gu Xiaoxi was extremely satisfied, her understanding of Lu Jiansen deepening even more.

This man was truly meticulous and thoughtful!

That night, Gu Xiaoxi cooked simple noodle soup for everyone. Though plain, it was topped with a spoonful of her mother’s homemade meat sauce, making it incredibly delicious.

Gu Dachuan finished two large bowls before speaking to his sister. “I have a mission tomorrow, so I won’t be coming over. Take care of yourself at home, lock the doors at night, and sleep early.”

Gu Xiaoxi nodded. “Got it, don’t worry! Be careful on your mission, stay alert!”

Gu Dachuan smiled and nodded. “Don’t worry! It’s not just me going. Lu… I mean, my brother-in-law is going too. With him there, there’s nothing to worry about!”

Lu Jiansen raised an eyebrow slightly, his eyes carrying a warning. “At all times, you must remain vigilant, follow discipline, and give your all—never take chances.”

“Yes, sir!” Gu Dachuan straightened up immediately, his attitude serious.

Then, he turned and ran off!

Gu Xiaoxi blinked. Her brother seemed quite afraid of Lu Jiansen.

The other soldiers, seeing Gu Dachuan run, naturally scattered as well.

Lu Jiansen tidied up the kitchen and, without missing a beat, heated water for Gu Xiaoxi’s bath, reminding her, “The bathroom can’t be used tonight. Wash in the room as usual. And if I’m not home, make sure to lock the door.”

Gu Xiaoxi nodded. “Got it!”

Fifteen minutes later, she was comfortably soaking in the wooden tub, warm water relaxing her body, while gentle streams rinsed her long hair effortlessly. The feeling was pure bliss.

After her bath, she lifted her hair slightly, and a soft breeze quietly dried it for her.

The experience made her heart bubble with joy. She changed into fresh clothes and flopped onto the bed, feeling utterly content.

She had only planned to lie down for a bit, but before she knew it, she had fallen asleep.

When Lu Jiansen entered the room, he was greeted by a mesmerizing sight—long, cascading hair, a slender waist half-exposed, long legs slightly bent, and delicate hands hugging the blanket as she slept peacefully.

He had always known that his little girl was beautiful, but seeing her like this still made his heart race.

He gently took her hand and placed a soft kiss on her fingertips.

If he wanted to protect her and give her a better life, he needed to work harder and become stronger.

Careful not to wake her, he quietly disposed of the bathwater, took his own bath, and tiptoed onto the bed.

Just as he was about to pull up the blanket for her, the mischievous little girl suddenly turned over and rolled right into his arms.

With her soft, warm body nestled against him, Lu Jiansen’s mind instantly wandered in dangerous directions.

He tried to suppress the urge, but in the end, he couldn’t bear to wake her up.

The one suffering in the end was him!

…

The next morning, when Gu Xiaoxi woke up, Lu Jiansen was getting ready to leave.

Seeing her open her eyes, still caught between sleep and wakefulness, she looked just like a lazy little kitten—so adorably irresistible.

He held back for a moment but ultimately couldn’t resist leaning in and kissing her lips.

“It’s still early. Sleep a little longer. I’m heading out on my mission—make sure to eat properly at home.”

Gu Xiaoxi, suppressing her shyness, nodded. “Mhm. Be safe!”

“Alright!” Lu Jiansen suppressed the urge to pull her into his arms and kiss her again, closing the door as he left.  

Listening to the sound of Lu Jiansen’s retreating footsteps, Gu Xiaoxiao lightly touched her lips, feeling an indescribable sweetness rise in her heart.  

It was unfamiliar, yet strangely unforgettable!  

Snapping out of her daze, she glanced at the watch on the table.  

It was only five o’clock—so early!  

She burrowed back under the covers and slept for another twenty minutes before finally getting up.  

After washing up and heading to the kitchen, she was surprised to find that Lu Jiansen had actually made congee early in the morning. Next to the pot were two boiled eggs and a small plate of her favorite shredded pork with pickled vegetables, kept warm.  

While feeling touched, she also wondered where the shredded pork with pickled vegetables had come from.  

After eating breakfast alone in the kitchen, she stood in the yard, pondering what she could do.  

After some deliberation, she eventually grabbed a large broom as a cover and used her garbage-clearing skill to sweep up the trash outside and around the yard.  

She even cleared the litter and scattered stones along the roadside, leaving the area around her house spotless in no time.  

Li Guifen, who had risen early, saw Gu Xiaoxiao working so diligently and walked over with a smile.  

“Xiaoxiao, you’re so hardworking! Have you eaten breakfast yet?”  

Gu Xiaoxiao gave her a sweet smile. “Yes, I have. What about you, Sister Guifen?”  

“Just about to! A few of us sisters are going grocery shopping later—do you want to join us?”  

Gu Xiaoxiao nodded. “Sure! But I won’t be buying groceries today since I still have some left from yesterday. I’m planning to mail a letter home.”  

“Sounds good. When we get to the street, head east—there’s a post office there. I’ll come get you later.”  

Once they settled the plan, Li Guifen went home to eat, and Gu Xiaoxiao carried the broom back into the yard.  

Since she planned to mail a letter later, she tore a page from her notebook and wrote a letter to her parents. 

At half past seven, Li Guifen came to fetch her. Gu Xiaoxiao casually slung a small bag over her shoulder, locked the door, and left.  

Five or six other military wives joined them for grocery shopping, chatting idly as they walked. Eventually, the conversation turned to the Xiao family.  

Feng Xia spoke in a disdainful tone, “Battalion Commander Xiao used to hand over his entire monthly allowance to his wife without fail. But after he died, that Ding Lanjing refused to give up a single cent. It wasn’t until the political commissar stepped in that she reluctantly coughed up a hundred yuan for Battalion Commander Xiao’s younger siblings.”  

Gu Xiaoxiao blinked curiously. “What about the child?”  

Feng Xia gave her a knowing look. “You’d never guess what happened next—Ding Lanjing handed the child over to Battalion Commander Xiao’s family and washed her hands of it.”  

Gu Xiaoxiao gasped. “The baby wasn’t even a month old, still breastfeeding. How could she bear to give it up?”  

Li Guifen scoffed. “Why wouldn’t she? She didn’t have any milk anyway. Without the child, she’s free to remarry!”  

Gu Xiaoxiao was speechless. Just as she was absorbing this, Feng Xia added, “But here’s the thing—later, Battalion Commander Xiao’s younger brother called the regiment, and in the end, the Xiao family didn’t want the child either.”  

“What?!” This time, Gu Xiaoxiao was genuinely shocked.  

Another military wife nearby, amused by her stunned expression, couldn’t help but laugh. “Feng Xia’s just teasing you. The final outcome was that Ding Lanjing’s younger sister said she would raise the child.”  

Gu Xiaoxiao: “…”  

Her eyes widened in genuine astonishment—she was utterly shocked!  

Ding Lanyi was the girl her brother had mentioned in his “belongings”!  

She didn’t know if anything would come of it between her brother and Ding Lanyi, but if feelings did develop, that child would be a ticking time bomb!  

She never expected that a casual bit of gossip could end up having ties to her own family.